I used not, the "channel method" on this one, Insurgo... You and I already have had a long discussion on why that's a worthless time waster of a method. I DID use only four layers, the sky (which is a Bryce Render), the flats, the shaded layer and the line art (as ever, in multiply mode.).
Most of the shading is simple dodge/burn tool in greyscale then using brushes in color mode once the tonal values are complete (You remember when I showed ya that method, Insurgo, don'cha, DON'CHA!), and, yes, the cape was smudged. It's just that coloring over someone else's pencils (and tight ones at that) defines the edges more than laying down blocks of grey tone and smudging them into shape.
(Oh, and Insurgo, remember that those smudged-out works I did for the Fan Art contests are pretty much drawn from scratch, and only have about 10 and 6 hours of work put into them, respectivly)... and basically count as detailed sketches... now, if I had the time to put in 60 hours of work on an entry, like some other entrants, I'd get in there with the airbrushes and the gradient fills and get that super-slick finish on 'em. As it is, I still think my June contest entry kicks serious ass---not the best technical finish, but one of the best concepts and layouts (besides yours, insurgo, ya sick bastich.))
Ok, that last bit was off topic.